Week in Review

The last week has been blistering in pace and intensity. There has been so much happening and more that needs to be accomplish.

A major highlight of the week was meeting with Lisa Curtis at FDR High School. After a prolonged period of trying to reach each other, we finally had a moment to talk. FDRHS has a great program that was developed in the 80's focusing on documentary film made through the eyes of students. Under the rubric of English, History and Sociology, the students tackle ideas of subjectivity and engagement. I was delighted to hear what they have be working on in the hopes that I can engage the students in the project. Next week, I will be dropping off flyers for teachers in English and the Arts to pass around to students, including pick up some video of previous students efforts.

Meeting with these groups continually brings me back to to the underlying goals of the project, mainly this desire bridge the past and the present. Thus far, I have a good amount of material of the past and these efforts at the High School, I will have a connection to the present. The next goal being to fill in the space that spans these times.

Plus, I'll say that the more I've spoken with people, the more interested they are in getting involved. This type of project can fall outside the communities every day reality. So much so, that it takes time and a personal effort to meet with people. I've had to continually adapt the way I talk about the project to up it into terms that people can connect with. This has happened and it is opening up the dialogue.

Finally, I will say that I am continually amazed by the people here. They are so real and engaged in the community. In working on this project, I have begun to see the networks that connect Hyde Park, making such an interesting place.